Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
- Nephlyte
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Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
20 Oct 2009 20:05
Well. my battery has been dying and today it won't turn the engine fast enough to start the engine anymore.
Luckily we're all blessed with a kickstarter in situations like this. But, for some reason my kickstarter won't engage. It just goes down really easy like and doesn't grab the engine.
Then sometimes i'll put my foot on it and it'll grab for one sec, then let go. It did this all of a sudden. A few weeks ago i've had to use the kickstarter and it worked great.
Do kickstarters just fail like that? Sometimes i can get it to engage if i push the engine in gear a little. It seems like a weird problem.
Luckily we're all blessed with a kickstarter in situations like this. But, for some reason my kickstarter won't engage. It just goes down really easy like and doesn't grab the engine.
Then sometimes i'll put my foot on it and it'll grab for one sec, then let go. It did this all of a sudden. A few weeks ago i've had to use the kickstarter and it worked great.
Do kickstarters just fail like that? Sometimes i can get it to engage if i push the engine in gear a little. It seems like a weird problem.
1979 KZ1000 MKII, 1075 wiseco kit installed, 10.25:1 compression, welded crank, kerker header and custom paint.
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- timebomb33
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Re: Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
20 Oct 2009 20:17
sounds like a bad spring in the ratchet mechanism.
1973 z1 2-1974z1-a,2-1975z1-b dragbikes1015cc+1393cc, 1977kz1000,1978kz1000,1981kz1000j, 1997 zx-11, 2000 z12r,1428turbo nitrous pro-mod and a shit load of parts thats all for now leader sask.,CANADA
I THINK MY POWERBAND BROKE
I THINK MY POWERBAND BROKE
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- kawsakiman
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Re: Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
20 Oct 2009 20:24
let go of the clutch while kickstarting and make sure you're in neurtal.
someday i will be able to afford my kz habit.
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- Nephlyte
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Re: Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
20 Oct 2009 20:46 - 20 Oct 2009 20:48
kawsakiman wrote:
You own the bike for 7 years, take the entire thing apart, and you are still an idiot sometimes.
Now that i'm thinking about it. I was holding the clutch each time it failed. Then it would work for seemingly no reason.
I guess i was just used to holding the clutch in while pushing the start button. I guess the starter has been working too well lately.
let go of the clutch while kickstarting and make sure you're in neurtal.
You own the bike for 7 years, take the entire thing apart, and you are still an idiot sometimes.
Now that i'm thinking about it. I was holding the clutch each time it failed. Then it would work for seemingly no reason.
I guess i was just used to holding the clutch in while pushing the start button. I guess the starter has been working too well lately.
1979 KZ1000 MKII, 1075 wiseco kit installed, 10.25:1 compression, welded crank, kerker header and custom paint.
Last edit: 20 Oct 2009 20:48 by Nephlyte.
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- N0NB
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Re: Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
21 Oct 2009 04:10
Disengaging the clutch was my first thought as well. Mr. Murphy taught me that one early on!

Nate
Nates vintage bike axiom: Riding is the reward for time spent wrenching.
Murphys corollary: Wrenching is the result of time spent riding.
1979 KZ650 (Complete!)
1979 KZ650 SR (Sold!)
1979 KL250 (For sale)
1994 Bayou 400 (four wheel peel
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Nates vintage bike axiom: Riding is the reward for time spent wrenching.
Murphys corollary: Wrenching is the result of time spent riding.
1979 KZ650 (Complete!)
1979 KZ650 SR (Sold!)
1979 KL250 (For sale)
1994 Bayou 400 (four wheel peel

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- tachrev
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Re: Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
21 Oct 2009 06:38
HAHA....done that more than once myself.
1977 Kawasaki KZ1000 : Street/Strip
Build Thread
Build Thread
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- timebomb33
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Re: Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
21 Oct 2009 11:29
easy fix,well that was another job well done here on kzr
1973 z1 2-1974z1-a,2-1975z1-b dragbikes1015cc+1393cc, 1977kz1000,1978kz1000,1981kz1000j, 1997 zx-11, 2000 z12r,1428turbo nitrous pro-mod and a shit load of parts thats all for now leader sask.,CANADA
I THINK MY POWERBAND BROKE
I THINK MY POWERBAND BROKE
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- Nephlyte
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Re: Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
24 Oct 2009 13:40
timebomb33 wrote:
Always a job well done. Half the Kz's in this country wouldn't be on the road if not for this site.
easy fix,well that was another job well done here on kzr
Always a job well done. Half the Kz's in this country wouldn't be on the road if not for this site.
1979 KZ1000 MKII, 1075 wiseco kit installed, 10.25:1 compression, welded crank, kerker header and custom paint.
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- timebomb33
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Re: Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
24 Oct 2009 14:54
yes that is probably true but at least i'm secure in the knowledge some of my 11 bikes will run again someday i hope god willing and if i can ever get enough time.
1973 z1 2-1974z1-a,2-1975z1-b dragbikes1015cc+1393cc, 1977kz1000,1978kz1000,1981kz1000j, 1997 zx-11, 2000 z12r,1428turbo nitrous pro-mod and a shit load of parts thats all for now leader sask.,CANADA
I THINK MY POWERBAND BROKE
I THINK MY POWERBAND BROKE
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- Locozuna
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Re: Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
24 Oct 2009 15:07
Never going to have time if you keep buying 11's to play with!

KZ900LTD, KZ750LTD, KZ650, 72'Triumph Trident
"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied
"If you seek for Eldorado!"
"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied
"If you seek for Eldorado!"
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- XtraKrispy
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Re: Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
10 Jun 2020 17:00
Now what if the clutch was not engaged and it was in neutral?
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- usa forever
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Re: Kickstarter doesn't turn the engine.
29 Jul 2020 10:53
Sometimes the clutch cable pops out abduct clutch cover where it goes into the motor and that is in effect pulling in the clutch and taking the pressure off the crank check the cable at the motor,over.
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